Hi Herman Aren't detwinning methods appropriate only in the case of true twin domains which are larger than the X-ray photon correlation length in order for the assumption to be valid that |F|^2 from each domain can be summed? This wouldn't give rise to the apparent 'diffuse scatter' phenomenon.
However if what you are describing is rather static disorder of unit cells, which would give rise to diffuse scatter, where A & B type cells are randomly mixed (so a domain is only one or at most a few unit cells), as opposed to being confined to A & B type domains, then detwinning would not be appropriate. Cheers -- Ian > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-ccp...@jiscmail.ac.uk > [mailto:owner-ccp...@jiscmail.ac.uk] On Behalf Of > herman.schreu...@sanofi-aventis.com > Sent: 29 January 2009 11:19 > To: margriet.ova...@chem.kuleuven.be; CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK > Subject: RE: [ccp4bb] Small lines in diffraction pattern (more info) > > Dear Margriet, > > From your description and what James Holton wrote, it seems > that you have 2 types of unit cells: > A: with the "sense" strand in position 1 and the "antisense" > strand in position 2 > B: with the "antisense" strand in position 1 and the "sense" > strand in position 2 > If the crystal contacts are mainly via the backbone, your > crystal may contain a random distribution of both and the > electron density you see is a superposition of both and for > the crystal packing, both chains are identical. > > This situation is similar to the situation when an asymmetric > inhibitor is bound to a dimeric, symmetric molecule like e.g. > HIV protease. In this case, both orientations are > deconvoluted using detwinning methods for perfect twinning > (see e.g. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 November 12; 99(23): > 14664-14669). > The 34,34,34 cell is definitively too small, so I would > process in the 34,34,170 cell and detwin. You molecular > replacement solutions should tell you which twinning operator to use. > > Best regards, > Herman > > > > ________________________________ > > From: CCP4 bulletin board > [mailto:ccp...@jiscmail.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Margriet Ovaere > Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 10:45 AM > To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK > Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] Small lines in diffraction > pattern (more info) > > > Dear all, > > > There were some comments about detector issues, but > these can be ruled out, to my opinion, since the lines > appeared on different beamlines. > > > Default settings of mosflm (spot picking) finds the > cell 34 34 34 90 90 90 (pointless indicating P41212) > > Structure was solved by SAD phasing on the phosphates > in this space group. Double helices stack in continuous > helices, the backbone is well defined in the (refined) > density maps but the individual bases are messy (purines and > pyrimidines seemed to overlap) + obviously not all spots were > covered and the duplex does not fit in the A.U. > > For this reason the integration was repeated in the > higher cell 34 34 170 > Space group most probably P212121, but solutions can be > found in P41212 as well (still disordered bases) > > There are also indications that the 41 screw axis is > rather a pseudo axis than a pure crystallographic one, also > in the small cell > > Reindexing the cell to 34 34 340 also gives a solution, > which supports the theory of Holton > > Rmerg is around 5% for the small cell, about 8% for the > 170Å cell (both in P41212) > > > > Which refinement procedure would be best to follow? > > kind regards > > Margriet > > > > > > Margriet Ovaere > Chemistry Department K.U.Leuven > Biomolecular Architecture > Celestijnenlaan 200 F > B-3001 Heverlee (Leuven) > Tel: +32(0)16327477 > > > > > > Disclaimer: > http://www.kuleuven.be/cwis/email_disclaimer.htm for more > information. > > > > Disclaimer This communication is confidential and may contain privileged information intended solely for the named addressee(s). It may not be used or disclosed except for the purpose for which it has been sent. If you are not the intended recipient you must not review, use, disclose, copy, distribute or take any action in reliance upon it. If you have received this communication in error, please notify Astex Therapeutics Ltd by emailing i.tic...@astex-therapeutics.com and destroy all copies of the message and any attached documents. Astex Therapeutics Ltd monitors, controls and protects all its messaging traffic in compliance with its corporate email policy. The Company accepts no liability or responsibility for any onward transmission or use of emails and attachments having left the Astex Therapeutics domain. Unless expressly stated, opinions in this message are those of the individual sender and not of Astex Therapeutics Ltd. The recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of computer viruses. Astex Therapeutics Ltd accepts no liability for damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email. E-mail is susceptible to data corruption, interception, unauthorized amendment, and tampering, Astex Therapeutics Ltd only send and receive e-mails on the basis that the Company is not liable for any such alteration or any consequences thereof. Astex Therapeutics Ltd., Registered in England at 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge CB4 0QA under number 3751674